The Acting Secretary of State to Chargé Wilson.
Washington, September 28, 1905.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 307, Greek Series, of the 30th ultimo, requesting instructions in the case of one Panos Indares, who is held by the Greek authorities for military service and who claims American citizenship through the naturalization of his father.
In reply I have to advise you that under the construction placed by this Department upon Revised Statutes, 2172, by virtue of which a son born abroad to an alien acquires American citizenship through the naturalization of his father, provided he, the son, was dwelling in the United States at the time of the naturalization of the father or at any subsequent period during his minority, young Indares is entitled to claim American citizenship.
The Greek Government, however, does not recognize the right of Greek subjects to change their nationality without permission of the King and considers both Indares’ father and himself to be still Greek subjects.
The United States has no naturalization treaty with Greece, but the Department has generally been able, by the exercise of its good offices, to bring about the release of the party in cases like the present.
You are therefore instructed to use your good offices in behalf of young Indares.
I am, etc.,